Los Gatos Weekly-Times

High school district board prepares for the new year

Members consider new policies, possibility of bond measure

By Michelle Alaimo

The Los Gatos-Saratoga Joint Union High School District is considering a bond issue on next spring's ballot to help fund facility repairs. The bond issue was one of several issues, such as communication, district objectives and personal relations, discussed Aug. 10 at an all-day workshop, which district superintendent Cynthia Ranii hopes to make an annual event.

"Right now, we have a responsibility to our schools," Ron Adolphson, president of the school board, said about the bond issue. "We all know the condition of our schools."

Ranii began meeting with consultants last week to discuss what strategy the district could take in getting a bond measure passed. She said the board has until Dec. 9 to adopt a resolution to put a bond measure on the ballot.

The board is also considering hiring a managed information system (MIS) employee for technical support district-wide.

If the district is to be computerized, Adolphson said, "we darn well better have a full-time MIS person." Ranii added that she will look at the budget by the Aug. 19 board meeting to see if there is enough money to hire an MIS employee.

In the communication area, Ranii said she would send board members a weekly packet with news clippings, school newsletters and anything else of interest to help keep them informed of what is happening in schools and the community.

Starting this fall, each agenda for school board meetings will include items which set aside time to recognize students, teachers and administrators for special achievements.

Ranii and the board also decided to work on finding ways to help all students feel they have excelled. Adolphson said a large group of parents in Saratoga are concerned that their children are under too much pressure and that some students might fall through the cracks.

"The challenge is to make everyone feel they are good at what they are doing," board member Jackie Schmidt-Posner said.

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